Locomotive stoker



March 25, 1941. MICKLE ETAL LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed 0012.22

, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 25,- 1941- R. A. MICKLE ETAL LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Oct. 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [1 BY JMM AT 0 Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,444

13 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers of the type that communicate with the firebox through a firing opening in a wall thereof above the level of the firebox grate. More particularly the invention pertains to that portion of a stoker of the type described adjacent the firebox.

Referring particularly to a locomotive, for purpose of illustration, there are variations in the firebox dimensions, the inclination of the backhead, the height of the deck and other differences in construction giving rise to numerous problems and difliculties in the application of stokers thereto. To provide a particular design of stoker discharge casing and distributing mechanism for each different locomotive construction would among other things necessitate the use of an excessive number of large and expensive patterns. maintenance of an inventory of a great many parts and render interchangeability of parts impossible. It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide a stoker of standard design that can be readily applied to furnaces of difierent design and construction, and particularly to provide a stoker for application to various types of locomotive fireboxes.

It is another object of the invention to provide for adjustment of certain parts of the distributing mechanism of a stoker to compensate for variable firebox constructions and for fuel of different characteristics.

In stokers of the type feeding to an opening in an upright wall of the firebox, it is customary to provide a distributing mechanism across which fuel passes from the stoker conduit to the firebox and longitudinally extending upstanding vanes or deflectors for deflecting or guiding the fuel as it passes across the distributing mechanism. It is another object of the invention to provide in such constructions a distributing mechanism that is capable of adjustment to various positions independently of the fuel deflectors and means forming a seal between the deflectors and the distributing mechanism in any of theadjusted positions of the latter.

The invention accordingly consists in the various details of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts as will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through a portion of a locomotive and its firebox with the novel stoker and distributing mechanism applied thereto and shown in side elevation;

cent ends of the stoker conduit and distributing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the deflectors and sealing means taken on the line 55 of Fig. 6, the. distributor head being shown in elevation; and

ii Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal, vertica J sectional view of the stoker discharge conduit with the deflecting, distributing and. sealing means applied thereto and shown in section taken on the line 6--G of Fig. 5.

The invention has been shown in the drawings as applied to a locomotive firebox and will be so described, however, it. will become apparent as the description proceeds that the invention is equally applicable to other types of fireboxes.

Referring to the drawings, a locomotive, indioated generally by the letter A, includes a boiler firebox l0 having a backwall II provided with a firing opening I2 above the level of the locomotive cab deck l3.

Fuel is delivered to the firebox ill from. a suitable source of supply, as from a tender fuel bin (not shown), by a stoker S which communicates at its discharge end with the lower portion of the firing opening l2. The upper portion of the firing opening. is provided with a firedoor l4 arranged for manual or power operation. The stoker S includes a conduit l5 extending upwardly and forwardly from beneath the cab deck to the firing opening and may be secured at its upper forward, end to the backwall H by angle bars H5 or other suitable means. Fuel is conveyed forwardly andupwardly toward the firing opening 12 by a conveyor screw l'l disposed within the conduit l5. At its lower end, the conduit I5 is connected with a conduit l8 leading forwardly from the source of fuel supply, and a ball and socket joint l9 provides for the necessary flexibility between the conduits during operation of the locomotive.

Depending from the sides of the conduit l5 near the lower end thereof are feet 20 and 2| provided, respectively, with downwardly opening forked end portions 22- and 23. A bracket 24 is rigidly securedto the backhead H and is provided with upstanding laterally spaced ears 25 and 26 arranged to be received in the forked portions 22 and 23, respectively, of the feet 20 and 2|, respectively. Bolts 21 and 28 passing loosely through the forked end portions 22 and 23, respectively; and the ears 25 and 26, respectively, form a pivotal support for the conduit |5 permitting fore and aft movement of the conduit l5 about the bolts 21 and 28 as an axis. The holes in the ears 25 and 26 can be made at the time the stoker is installed in the locomotive to bring them in register with the holes in the forked end portions 22 and 23 of the feet 20 and 2|.

Fuel is conveyed by the conveyor screw H to a distributing mechanism which will now be described in detail. The distributing mechanism includes a pressure fluid jet head 29 disposed in the lower portion of the firing opening l2 at the discharge end of the conduit 5. The jet head 29 comprises a plurality of walls defining therein the chambers 30 and 3|, including a flat top wall 32 across which the fuel is urged from the conduit |5 by the conveyor screw l1, and a front wall 33 provided with a plurality of jet openings 34 communicating with the chambers 30 and 3|. The fuel passing across the top wall 32 of the jet head drops in front of the front wall 33 onto a distributing table 35 which is detachably secured to and supported from the jet head 29 in the following manner. The rear edge portion of the top wall 36 of the table 35 rests on a ledge 31 that extends forwardly from the lower forward edge of the jet head 29. Depending from the underside of the table top wall 36 are rearwardly extending lugs 38 provided with the upstanding curved ribs 39 which cooperate with a complementary curved wall 40 of the jet head 29 to hingedly connect the jet head 29 and the distributing table 35.

In order to provide for cooling of the distributing table 35, it is provided with a depending apron 4| defining a chamber open at its rearward end, through which opening a current of air is drawn from outside the firebox. A plurality of perforations 46 are provided in the apron 4| of the distributing table 35 through which the air is drawn from the chamber 45 into the firebox. A sealing member 41 is mounted in the chamber 45 on the bottom wall of the apron 4|, and forms a closure for the gap between the rearward edge of the apron and the inside sheet of the backhead.

The jet head 29 is hingedly supported by the conduit 5 for adjustment about a transverse horizontally extending axis whereby the jet head 29 and distributing table may be made to assume the same relative position in the firing opening irrespective of the slope of the stoker conduit l5 or may be adjusted to a position best adapted for distributing fuel over the firebed in the firebox. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the chambers 30 and 3| from a suitable source of supply through openings 48 in the rearwardly extending cored portion 49 of the jet head 29 and issues from the jet openings 34 for projecting the fuel from the distributing table 35.

To provide for the hinging movement of the jet head 29, the forward edge of the bottom wall 50 of the conduit I5 is formed with a transversely extending arcuate indentation 5| arranged to receive the rolled edge 52 at the rearward end of the top wall 32 of the jet head 29. In order to secure the jet head 29 in adjusted position, its rearward extension 49 is provided with a lug vanes 59 and 60 are provided, one at each side of the delivery end of the stoker conduit. Each vane is pivotally mounted at its rearward end on an upstanding axis for movement over the top wall 32 of the jet head 29 whereby more or less fuel may be delivered onto one side or the other of the top wall 36 of the table 35. To maintain a seal between the lower edge of the vanes 59 and 60 and the top wall 32 of the jet head 29 irrespective of the inclination of the top wall 32 of the jet head 29, a novel construction and arrangement of elements is provided. This construction and arrangement is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 relative to the vane 69 and will be so described, it will be understood, however, that the same construction and relation of elements applies to the vane 59.

The vane 60 is provided near its lower edge with an outwardly and downwardly extending flange 6| forming with the lower portion of the vane 60 a downwardly opening recess 62. A longitudinally extending plate 63 is received loosely the recess 62 and rests on the top wall 32 of the jet head 29. A spring 64 disposed in the recess 62 between the flange 6| and the upper end of the plate 63 forces the plate 63 downwardly in contact with the top wall 32 of the jet head 29, thus maintaining a seal between the lower edge of the vane 60 and the top wall of the jet head irrespective of the relative positions of the conduit l5 and the jet head 29.

Elongated slots 65 are preferably provided in the plate 63 and pins 66 passing through the flange 6|, vane 60 and slots 65 prevents fore and aft movement of the plate 63.

It is apparent, therefore, that the inclination of the conduit l5 may be varied to a considerable extent to suit the particular firebox or locomotive construction, while maintaining a desired position of the distributing mechanism in the firing opening and maintaining a seal against leakage of the coal between the deflector vanes I and the distributing mechanism.

We claim:

1. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor, fuel deflecting means disposed above and spaced from said distributor and a plate like member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting means and the lower edge thereof resting on said distributor, said platelike member forming a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means.

2. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor, fuel deflecting means above said distributor, said distributor and deflecting means being arranged for relative movement in an upward and downward direction, and a platelike member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting means to form a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of their relative positions.

3. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor, fuel deflecting means above said distributor, said distributor and deflecting means being arranged for relative movement in an upward and downward direction, a plate-like member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arrangedfor relative upward and downwardmovem'ent with respect to said deflecting means toform a seal between the distributor andthe deflecting means in any one of their relative positions, and yieldable means for maintaining said plate-like member in contact with said distributor.

i. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor, a fuel deflecting vane above said distributor, said distributor and deflecting vane being arranged for relative movement in an upward and downward direction, said deflecting vane being provided in its lower end with a downwardly opening channel extending longitudinally of the vane, a plate-like member in said channel, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting vane to form a seal between the distributor and the deflecting vane in any one of their relative positions, and yieldable means for maintaining said plate-like member in contact with said distributor.

5. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor having a flat top surface, a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending deflecting vanes above said distributor, said distributor and deflecting vanes being arranged for relative movement in an upward and downward direction, a p1ate-like member engaging each of said vanes and extending in the direction of said vanes, said platelike members being arranged for rela-- tive upward and downward movement with respect to said vanes to form seals between the distributor and the deflecting vanes in any one of their relative positions, and yieldable means for maintaining said plate-like members in contact with the flat top surface of said distributor.

6. The combination in a stoker of a fuel distributor having a flat top surface, a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending deflecting vanes above said distributor, said distributor and deflecting vanes being arranged for relative movement in an upward and downward direction, each of said deflecting vanes being provided in its lower end with a downwardly opening channel extending longitudinally of the vane, a plate-like member in each of said channels extending in the direction of said respective vane, said plate-like members being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said vanes to form seals between the distributor and the deflecting vanes in any one of their relative positions, and yieldable means for maintaining said plate-like members in contact with the flat top surface of said distributor.

'7. In combination with a Stoker discharge conduit, a fuel distributor arranged to receive fuel from said discharge conduit, deflecting means above said distributor adapted to act on the fuel, said distributor being mounted with the bottom wall of said discharge conduit at the discharge end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse axis toward and away from the deflecting means and means associated with said deflecting means forming a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of a number of positions of said distributor.

8. In combination with a stoker discharge conduit, a fuel distributor arranged to receive fuel from said discharge conduit, deflecting means above said distributor adapted to act on the fuel, said distributor being mounted with the bottom wall of said discharge conduit at the discharge end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse axis toward and away from the deflecting means and a plate-like member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting means to form a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of a number of positions of said distributor.

9. In combination with a stoker discharge conduit, a fuel distributor arranged to receive fuel from said discharge conduit, deflecting means above said distributor adapted to act on the fuel, said distributor being mounted with the bottom wall of said discharge conduit at the discharge end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse axis toward and away from the deflecting means, a plate-like member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting means to form a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of a number of positions of said distributor and yieldable means for maintaining said plate-like member in contact with said distributor.

10. In combination with a stoker discharge conduit, a fuel distributor arranged to receive fuel from said discharge conduit, deflecting means above said distributor mounted with said conduit for movement about an upwardly extending axis, said distributor being mounted with the bottom wall of said discharge conduit at the discharge end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse axis toward and away from the deflecting means and means associated with said deflecting means forming a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of a number of positions of said distributor.

11. In combination with a stoker discharge conduit, a fuel distributor arranged to receive fuel from said discharge conduit, deflecting means above said distributor mounted with said conduit for movement about an upwardly extending axis, said distributor being mounted with the bottom wall of said discharge conduit at the discharge end thereof for pivotal movement about a transverse axis toward and away from the deflecting means and a plate-like member engaging said deflecting means, said plate-like member being arranged for relative upward and downward movement with respect to said deflecting means to form a seal between the distributor and the deflecting means in any one of a number of positions of said distributor.

12. In a furnace having an upstanding wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel discharge conduit communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid jet head at the forward end of said discharge conduit, said pressure fluid jet head being mounted with respect to said discharge conduit for pivotal movement about a transversely extending axis, means providing a plurality of chambers in said jet head forward of the pivotal connection between said conduit and said jet head, said jet head having a cored portion extending rearwardly beneath said discharge conduit and rearwardly of the pivotal connection between said conduit and said jet head, the cored portion of said jet head arranged to receive fluid under pressure for delivery to said chambers, and means at the terminal end of the cored portion of said jet head for securing the latter in any one of a number of positions of adjustment about the transversely extending axis.

13. In a furnace having an upstanding wall with a firing opening therein, a fuel discharge conduit member communicating with said firing opening, a pressure fluid receiving member extending forwardly from the forward edge of the bottom wall of the said discharge conduit member, one of the adjacent ends of said members having a transversely extending rolled edge and the other of said adjacent ends having a complementary grooved surface receiving said rolled edge to provide a pivotal connection whereby one member may move with respect to the other memher about a transversely extending axis, means providing a plurality of chambers in said pressure fluid receiving member forward of the pivotal connection between said members, said pressure fluid receiving member having a cored portion extended rearwardly beneath said discharge conduit and rearwardly of the pivotal connection between said members, and means at the terminal end of the cored portion of said pressure fluid receiving member for securing the latter in any one of the number of positions of adjustment about the transversely extending axis.

RUSSELL A. MICKLE. JOSEPH B. MACKENZIE. 

